376 A JOURNEY IN BRAZIL. 
pretty and attractive enough ; for it opened into a sunny 
garden, where bananas and oranges and palrn-trees were 
growing. But the old woman who received me complained 
bitterly of the dampness, to which, indeed, her hoarse cough 
and rheumatism bore testimony ; and a man was lying in his 
hammock, slung under the porch, who was worn to mere 
skin and bone with fever. Here also we received some 
valuable specimens, collected, since our previous visit, by 
the subdelegado and one or two other residents. 
February 3c?. On Thursday we reached Taj apuru, where 
we were detained for two days on account of some little re 
pair needed on the steamer. The place is interesting as 
showing what may be done on the Amazons in a short 
time by enterprise and industry. A settler in these regions 
may, if he has the taste and culture to appreciate it, sur- 
round himself with much that is attractive in civilized life. 
Some seventeen years ago Senhor Sepeda established him- 
self at this spot, then a complete wilderness. He has now 
a very large and pleasant country-house, with a garden in 
front and walks in the forest around. The interior of the 
house is commodious and tasteful ; and we could not but 
wish, while we enjoyed Senhor Sepeda's hospitality, that his 
example might be followed, and that there might be many 
such homes on the banks of the Amazons. This morning 
we are again on our way down the river. 
February 4th. We reached Para to-day, parting, not 
without regret, from the " Ibicuhy," on board of which we 
have spent so many pleasant weeks. Before we left the 
vessel, Captain Faria ordered the carpenter to take down 
our little pavilion on deck. It had been put up for our 
accommodation, and had served as our dining-room and 
our working-room, our shelter from the sun, and our snug 
